YES Rally for Marriage Equality

History was made yesterday. Over 30k people marched in Sydney to show their support for marriage equality. It is the biggest turnout in Australia’s LGBTIQ rally history.

The YES Rally was a response to a controversial and expensive postal survey, which costing the taxpayers $122 million, to gauge the support for legalising same-sex marriage in Australia. The national survey is voluntary and it will be conducted from 12th September to 7th November.

The results of the survey is non-binding, but the Australian government promises to change the definition of marriage in the Marriage Act if the majority voted ‘Yes’. The Marriage Act currently defines marriage as a legal union between a man and a woman.

The survey has been called unnecessary because the Act can be changed through a free process in the parliament. Many within the LGBTIQ community find it degrading and insulting that their human rights are being put to a public vote, but the community and the public are moving forward and determine to make marriage equality a reality.